Cutest Ever Baby Knits: More Than 25 Adorable Projects to Knit

By Val Pierce

An irresistible collection of utterly cute baby clothes, these patterns will give great delight to the knitter and those who see the results. There are booties that look like little strawberries, a set of bumblebee hat and mitts, and a cozy cot blanket that looks like a field of daisies. Lovely hats, botties, mitts, little coats, and cardigans—n

• Language: English
• Publisher: IMM Lifestyle Books
• Release date: Dec 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781607653080

Val Pierce

Knitting and crochet have been a lifelong passion for Val Pierce, her father having taught her to knit at the tender age of 5. Having worked for many major yarn companies and various well-known designers, she decided it was time to branch out and begin making her own designs. Author of Love… Knitting, Val's work is published regularly in knitting magazines. She also teaches knitting and crochet to both adults and children.

Book preview

Introduction

The art of knitting was once deemed boring and old fashioned, but over the past few years this fascinating and relaxing hobby has seen a huge revival. Knitting clubs and groups have sprung up everywhere, and people from all walks of life have begun to learn or re-learn this wonderful craft. Enticed by the fabulous range of yarns and accompanying design leaflets that are available these days, the would-be knitter has quite a dilemma when it comes to deciding what to make and which yarns to choose!

It is all too easy to go into a store and buy a ready-made garment but you will be missing out on the sheer pleasure of browsing the sumptuous yarns available, choosing just the right colour and design for you or the person you are making it for. You will also miss out on the sheer satisfaction of spending some ‘me time’ creating your own special work of art!

With this in mind I have designed a gorgeous range of baby knits to tempt even the novice knitter to create something wonderful for the special little one in your life. Designs range from traditional to contemporary and include sweet tops, cardigans and hats, to a rough-and-tumble Teddie hoodie, a warm shawl collar cardigan, doggy slippers and a cute bumble bee hat and mittens. There is also a snuggly blanket made in delicate spring shades, a useful toy or laundry bag, colourful play blocks and of course no nursery would be complete without an endearing teddy bear to cuddle.

All patterns are rated as to difficulty and there is something for most skill levels, from the beginner right through to the more experienced knitter who enjoys a challenge. The yarns used are all beautifully soft, practical and hand washable and are widely available throughout the UK, Europe and the US. There is a brief hints, tips and techniques section to get you started, which also includes useful conversion charts of needle sizes, yarn conversions and common knitting abbreviations.

Whatever your skill level and experience in knitting you are sure to find some project within that will inspire you to get busy with your needles.

Happy knitting!

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With a little help . . .

Hints, tips and techniques to get you started—including a quick run-down of basic stitches, working with colour and charts, and completing your project.

MATERIALS AND ACCESSORIES

Yarns

It can be quite daunting for a new knitter to decide which yarns to use for a project. The choice available these days is quite stunning and ranges from naturals to synthetics, alpaca, metallic, cashmere, silk, blends of wool and acrylic, to name but a few. They come in different thicknesses or weight: fine yarns such as 2- and 3-ply, for instance, are normally used for baby garments and shawls. Probably the most widely used yarns are 4-ply and double knitting weight, then we come to Aran and chunky weight yarns that knit up quickly and produce heavyweight garments. All the projects in this book have specified yarns but you can substitute these for different yarns as long as you check your tension before beginning the work and you keep to the same ply or weight recommended in the pattern. If you do decide to change yarns then it is possible that you will achieve a different look to your finished garment than that of the design.

Accessories

Before embarking on your first garment you need to acquire a few basic tools. There are many brands of knitting needles available these days, and the price range is varied. It is wise to invest in some good-quality needles since these will give you many years of service. A tape measure, stitch holders, row markers, cable needle, a good sharp pair of needlework scissors and a range of sewing up needles are recommended too. A knitting bag is also a very handy thing in which to store your work in progress; not only does it keep your work clean while you are knitting, you can store the patterns and yarns you are using all in one place ready to begin work.

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Let’s get knitting

The following pages outline the basic methods of casting on and off, knit and purl stitiches, increasing and decreasing, as well as working in colour and from charts.

CASTING ON AND OFF

There are several methods for casting on and casting off (in the US, binding off). Some knitting patterns will stipulate a particular method, depending on the effect required within the pattern—it is common to cast off in pattern, for instance. Make sure that your cast on and cast off stitches remain elastic by either working them reasonably loosely or using a larger size needle than stated if you think you work very tightly. Most patterns will tell you which side of the knitting to finish your work on but as a general rule most casting off is done with the right side of the work facing.

Casting on—two-needle method

This method involves creating a row of loops cast on to a needle. The second needle is used to build a series of interjoining loops in a row. Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the needle to make the stitches in your right hand. (If you are left-handed, do the reverse.) To start, make a slip knot about 10 cm (4 in) from the end of your yarn, slip it over the needle in your left hand. Then insert the right-hand needle through the front loop as if you were making a knit stitch (now follow steps 1–4).

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1 Pass the yarn under and over the point of the right-hand needle (again as if you were making a knit stitch).

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2 Using the right-hand needle, draw the yarn through the slip knot to form a new stitch.

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3 Transfer new stitch to left-hand needle, insert right-hand needle through front of new stitch and repeat 1.

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4 Continue in this way until you have cast on the required number of stitches specified in your pattern.

Casting on—one-needle or thumb method

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1 Making sure that you have unwound sufficient yarn from the main ball to allow you to cast on the stated number of stitches, make a slip knot and place it on the needle.

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2 Wind the yarn clockwise around your thumb and hold firmly. Insert the point of the needle through the loop on your thumb.

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3 Wind the yarn in your left hand around the back of the point of the needle and in between the needle and your thumb. Pull the point of the needle under the yarn to form a stitch.

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4 Slip the stitch on to the needle close to the slip knot. Continue in this way until you have the required number of stitches specified in your pattern.

Casting off

The technique of casting off is used to provide the finished edge to the end of your work. It is also used when you shape pieces of work or make buttonholes. It is usual to cast off on the right side of your work; however, follow the instructions since you may have to cast off in pattern. Don’t pull stitches too tightly when casting off, since this may result in a puckered edge, or make it difficult when sewing up the seams of the garment.

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1 Work the first two stitches in pattern. With the yarn at the back of the work, insert the point of the needle through the first stitch.

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2 Using the left-hand needle, lift the first stitch over the second stitch and then off the needle.

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